China is secretly training Russians in drone warfare techniques that they are using in Ukraine.

Around 200 Russian military personnel underwent training in China late last year. Some of them subsequently participated in combat operations in Ukraine, according to documents reviewed by the agency. Reuters.

Since the outbreak of full-scale war in 2022, Moscow and Beijing have regularly conducted joint exercises. China, however, consistently maintains its neutrality and positions itself as a mediator in resolving the conflict.

Secret training programs, which focused primarily on the use of drones, were outlined in a bilingual Russian-Chinese agreement signed by high-ranking officers from both countries in Beijing on July 2, 2025.

On the subject: The State Duma passed a law granting the president the right to use the army to protect Russian citizens abroad.

According to the document, approximately 200 Russian service members were to undergo training at military facilities, including in Beijing and Nanjing. Sources claim that approximately the same number of personnel were trained.

The agreement also stipulates that hundreds of Chinese military personnel will undergo training at Russian training grounds.

Drone war

Drones have become one of the key tools of this war.

The front lines are dominated by more compact drones, controlled by operators in first-person view (FPV) mode and armed with explosives. Their widespread use makes the movement of armored vehicles and infantry extremely risky.

Specialists from private Chinese companies participated in the technical development of military drones for a Russian attack drone manufacturer. The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated at the time that it had no information about such cooperation.

Both companies featured in the publication were hit with EU sanctions last month.

Russian military personnel underwent training in drones, electronic warfare, army aviation, and mechanized infantry operations. The document prohibited media coverage of these visits and instructed against informing third parties.

According to two intelligence agencies, Chinese military personnel have been sent to Russia for training since at least 2024, but training Russian military personnel in China is a new practice.

Russia has significant combat experience gained in Ukraine, while China has a powerful drone industry, technological developments, and advanced training methods.

The People's Liberation Army of China is comparable to the US Armed Forces in a number of ways.

A significant portion of the trained Russians are instructors who are able to pass on the knowledge they have acquired.

An intelligence agency has identified several Russian military personnel who trained in China and subsequently took direct part in drone operations in annexed Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia region. According to the agency, they include military personnel of various ranks, from junior sergeants to lieutenant colonels.

Intelligence believes there is a high probability that a significant portion of the trained military personnel were sent to Ukraine.

Mortars and simulators

Internal Russian military reports seen by Reuters describe four Chinese training programs.

One of the December 2025 reports concerns a combined arms combat training course for approximately 50 Russian service members. It took place at the Shijiazhuang branch of the PLA Infantry Academy. During the training, the soldiers learned to fire 82mm mortars, using drones for reconnaissance and spotting.

Another report describes air defense training at a military facility, presumably in Zhengzhou. There, they trained in the use of electronic warfare systems, including specialized "anti-drone" guns, net-casters, and interception drones.

All of these technologies are actively used in the war in Ukraine. Electronic weapons jam drone signals, and net-based systems allow for the physical capture of drones as they approach.

Both sides also use fiber-optic-guided drones, connected to the operator by a thin cable that cannot be jammed by electronic warfare. These drones typically operate at ranges of 10 to 20 km, but some can travel up to 40 km.

The third report, from December 2025, describes a drone course at the PLAAF Yibin Air Training Center. The training included multimedia lectures, flight simulator training, and training in operating several types of FPV drones and other aircraft.

The fourth report concerns a course held in November 2025 at the PLA's Nanjing University of Military Engineering. It focused on explosives technology, mine installation and clearance, and the disposal of unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices.

The report includes photographs of Russian military personnel in uniform undergoing training with Chinese instructors. The images also show them demonstrating engineering equipment and mine-detection techniques.

Direct involvement of China in the war in Europe

According to one intelligence official, the training of Russian troops who will then participate in combat operations in Ukraine means direct involvement of China in the war in Europe.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing "consistently adheres to an objective and impartial position" and promotes peace talks.

European countries, viewing Russia as a key security threat, are watching the rapprochement between Moscow and Beijing with caution. China is the world's second-largest economy and a major trading partner for the European Union.

You may be interested in: top New York news, stories of our immigrants, and helpful tips about life in the Big Apple - read it all on ForumDaily New York

Shortly before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 (Russia's war against Ukraine, as a reminder, has been ongoing since 2014), the countries declared a "partnership without limits" and agreed to joint exercises to practice military coordination. When the West attempted to isolate Russia, China effectively became its economic backbone, purchasing oil, gas, and coal from Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently visited China. This is the Russian dictator's 25th visit to China. Moscow and Beijing are presenting this trip as further proof of the strong cooperation between Russia and China, despite Western calls to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

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